Manually updating 600 devices with the latest service packs, security patches and system changes had become unmanageable for IT administrators at Georgia Bank & Trust. The Augusta, Georgia based community bank just couldn’t keep up with the onslaught of system and security updates from Microsoft and Symantec.

Like many small institutions, the 12-branch community bank had an ad-hoc approach to bank IT management. Admins updated devices individually using Microsoft’s Windows Server Update Service (WSUS), a free version of Virtual Network Computing (VNC) for remote control access to PCs, and another service for software inventory. This manual process resulted in at least some of the bank’s devices nearly always without the latest updates. It was something both state and FDIC examiners were not happy with. Tons of PCs were not complying and Georgia Bank & Trust was always behind trying to catch up to get the patches and service packs.

So they took a tip from Safe Systems, a third-party firm that focuses on reviewing and reporting bank IT management risks specifically for banks and credit unions. Safe Systems had been performing quarterly health tests on Georgia Bank & Trust’s network to review the status of its operating systems and servers. Safe Systems recommended the bank consolidate its updating tasks via Kaseya.

Automated, Customizable Bank IT Management Software

Safe Systems has customized Kaseya’s software with compliance-focused reporting features for banking. They deploy a software agent that collects information on every device, PC and server in the network, including all installed software on each device, as well as the system versions and license keys. The information displays on a Web portal so users can immediately see onscreen which specific software updates are needed for each device. Systems are updated automatically.

Safe Systems’ customized version of Kaseya’s bank IT management software adds custom filters and manages update schedules and policies for community banks and credit unions. For instance, a specific anti-virus profile can be created for a server, in which certain directories would be excluded from real-time scans that could disrupt applications. The combined solution also enables banks to perform remote maintenance of particular machines, and to remotely run processes while a PC is still in use. It frees Georgia Bank & Trust from chasing their tails trying to get all information manually and allows them to concentrate on their users, creating way more efficiency.

Now with automated updating and screen-based reporting aimed at remediating the bank’s 560 PCs and 47 servers, pleasing examiners has become a lot less of a hassle. It’s also now easier to get the information they ask for than it used to be, and Georgia Bank & Trust is in a better position overall, because everything’s up to date.